Tea making appliance with filter assembly

ABSTRACT

A tea maker includes a brewing unit which defines a vessel having an upper opening with a spout disposed thereon. A lid assembly is removeably received on the upper opening of the vessel and includes a steeping tube. The steeping tube extends downwardly from the lid assembly into the vessel when the lid assembly is received on the upper opening of the vessel. An articulating filter assembly is coupled to the lid assembly and includes a filter plate that is operable between an extended position and a retracted position. The filter plate is configured to contact an inner surface of the vessel when the filter plate is in the extended position. A biasing member is configured to bias the filter plate towards the extended position for filtering a brewed tea mixture as the mixture is poured through the upper opening of the vessel.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This present application claims the benefit of U.S. ProvisionalApplication No. 62/205,867 entitled “TEA MAKING APPLIANCE WITH FILTERASSEMBLY” filed on Aug. 17, 2015, the entire contents of which areincorporated by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present concept generally relates to a tea maker, and moreparticularly, to a tea maker having a spring-loaded filter assembly.

SUMMARY

One aspect of the present concept includes a tea maker having a brewingunit. The brewing unit defines a vessel having an upper opening with aspout disposed thereon. A lid assembly is removeably received on theupper opening of the vessel and includes a central aperture opening intoa steeping tube. The steeping tube extends downwardly from the lidassembly into the vessel when the lid assembly is received on the upperopening of the vessel. An articulating filter assembly is coupled to thelid assembly and includes a filter plate that is operable between anextended position and a retracted position. The filter plate isconfigured to contact an inner surface of the vessel when the filterplate is in the extended position. A biasing member is disposed on thefilter assembly and is configured to bias the filter plate towards theextended position against the inner surface of the vessel for filteringa brewed tea mixture as the mixture is poured through the upper openingof the vessel.

Another aspect of the present concept includes a tea maker having abrewing unit with a vessel. The vessel includes an upper opening with aspout disposed thereon. A lid assembly is removeably received on theupper opening of the vessel. An articulating filter assembly is coupledto the lid assembly and includes a filter plate that is operable betweenextended and retracted positions. The filter plate is configured tocontact an inner surface of the vessel when the filter plate is in theextended position. A biasing member is disposed on the filter assemblyand configured to bias the filter plate towards the extended position.

Another aspect of the present concept includes a tea maker having avessel with an inner surface that defines a cavity. The vessel furtherincludes an upper opening with a spout disposed thereon. A lid assemblyis removeably received on the upper opening of the vessel. A filterassembly is operably coupled to the lid assembly and includes a filterplate that is operable between extended and retracted positions. Thefilter plate is configured to contact the inner surface of the vesselwhen the filter plate is in the extended position.

Yet, another aspect of the present concept includes a tea maker having avessel with a cavity and an upper opening. A spout is disposed on theupper opening. A lid assembly is removeably received on the upperopening of the vessel. A filter assembly is operably coupled to the lidassembly and includes a filter plate that is operable between extendedand retracted positions relative to the vessel. The filter platecontacts an inner surface of the vessel when the filter plate is in theextended position. The vessel further includes a pouring path definedbetween the cavity of the vessel and the spout. The filter plateintersects the pouring path when the filter plate is in the extendedposition.

These and other features, advantages, and objects of the present devicewill be further understood and appreciated by those skilled in the artupon studying the following specification, claims, and appendeddrawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the drawings:

FIG. 1A is a perspective view of a tea maker having a kettle positionedon a support stand according to an embodiment of the present concept;

FIG. 1B is a side elevational view of the tea maker of FIG. 1;

FIG. 2 is a top perspective view of the support stand a FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a bottom plan view of a base portion of the kettle of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4A is a top perspective view of a lid and steeper assembly asremoved from the tea maker of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4B side elevational view of the lid and steeper assembly of FIG.4A;

FIG. 5 is a top perspective view of the lid and steeper assembly of FIG.4A as shown being received in a steeper holder unit shown in an explodedtop perspective view;

FIG. 6 is a bottom perspective view of the of the lid and steeperassembly of FIG. 4A;

FIG. 7 is a top perspective view of a spring-loaded filter assembly; and

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the lid and steeper assembly of FIG.6 taken at line VIII.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

For purposes of description herein the terms “upper,” “lower,” “right,”“left,” “rear,” “front,” “vertical,” “horizontal,” and derivativesthereof shall relate to the device as oriented in FIG. 1A. However, itis to be understood that the device may assume various alternativeorientations and step sequences, except where expressly specified to thecontrary. It is also to be understood that the specific devices andprocesses illustrated in the attached drawings, and described in thefollowing specification are simply exemplary embodiments of theinventive concepts defined in the appended claims. Hence, specificdimensions and other physical characteristics relating to theembodiments disclosed herein are not to be considered as limiting,unless the claims expressly state otherwise.

Referring now to FIG. 1A, the reference numeral 10 generally designatesa tea making appliance, hereinafter tea maker, according to oneembodiment of the present concept. As shown in FIG. 1A, the tea maker 10includes a brewing unit 12 in the form of a glass kettle disposed on asupport stand 14. The brewing unit 12 generally includes a vessel 20which defines a cavity 22 for holding water and/or brewed tea in use.The brewing unit 12 includes an upper opening 24 having a spout 26disposed thereon. The brewing unit 12 further includes a base portion 28which is received on support stand 14. The base portion 28 houses aheating element which is configured to heat the contents of the brewingunit 12 when triggered by an actuation button 30 disposed on the supportstand 14 which is operable between ON and OFF conditions. Thus, the baseportion 28 is electrically coupled to the support stand 14 for poweringthe heating element of the base portion 28. As further shown in FIG. 1A,the brewing unit 12 further includes an outwardly extending handle 32coupled to the vessel 20 which is engaged by a user for positioning thebrewing unit 12 on the support stand 14, as well as for handling thebrewing unit 12 when pouring brewed tea from the vessel 20 along apouring path indicated by arrow P1. The pouring path P1 is definedbetween the cavity 22 of the vessel 20 and the spout 26 and serves tochannel the contents of the vessel 20 to the spout 26 for exiting thevessel 20. A heat guard 33 is disposed on an outer surface 21 of thevessel 20, which is contemplated to shield a user's hand from the heatedbrewing vessel 20 as the user engages the handle 32. In the embodimentshown in FIG. 1A, the brewing unit 12 further includes a brushed metaltrim band 34 which is generally disposed around the vessel 20 near thebase portion 28. The brewing unit 12 further includes a bottom wall 36which defines a heat transfer plate for heating water disposed in thevessel 20 during a tea brewing procedure. The vessel 20 is contemplatedto be made from a substantially clear material, such as glass or anyother like material, which is configured to withstand an operatingtemperature generally associated with brewing tea.

A lid assembly 40 is received on the upper opening 24 for selectivelyproviding access to the cavity 22. The lid assembly 40 may betwist-locked into place on opening 24, or may be friction fit to theupper opening 24 by a flexibly resilient ring seal, as further describedbelow. The lid assembly 40 can also be drop-set into place on upperopening 24. Once the lid assembly 40 is in place on the upper opening24, the cavity 22 of the brewing unit 12 is considered to besubstantially sealed. The lid assembly 40 is coupled to a steeping tube90 which is disposed in the cavity 22 of the brewing unit 12 when thelid assembly 40 is in place on upper opening 24 of the vessel 20, asfurther described below.

Referring now to FIG. 1B, the support stand 14 includes a slide switch42 having a selector handle 44 slideably disposed along a channel 46. Asshown in FIG. 1B, various brewing functions 48 are disposed on an outerwall 15 of the support stand 14 above the channel 46. The brewingfunctions 48 can be selected by a user by sliding the selector handle 44to a particular function. Further, a user can select a specifictemperature for a brewing procedure by sliding the selector handle 44along channel 46 to a particular temperature setting as found on atemperature scale 50 disposed on the outer wall 15 of the support stand14 below the channel 46. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1B, the brewingfunctions 48 may include the following functions: HERBAL, BLACK, OOLONG,WHITE, GREEN and DELICATE. The functions noted above are exemplary onlyand it is contemplated that other types of tea may be added or deletedfrom the list of brewing functions 48 of the tea maker 10. As furthershown in FIG. 1B, the outer surface 21 of the vessel 20 includes anumber of measurement markings 52 disposed thereon. The measurementmarkings 52 are used to indicate a specific volume of liquid received inthe cavity 22 of the brewing unit 12.

Referring now to FIG. 2, the support stand 14 is shown having thebrewing unit 12 removed therefrom. With the brewing unit 12 removed, asupport surface 60 is revealed having a centrally disposed upwardlyextending power plug 62 disposed thereon. The power plug 62 is used toelectronically couple the support stand 14 with the base portion 28 ofthe brewing unit 12, as further described below. It is contemplated thatthe support stand 14 further includes a power cord having a plug whichis configured to connect the tea maker 10 (FIG. 1) to an electricalreceptacle for powering the tea maker 10. As further shown in FIG. 2,the actuation button or power button 30 includes a lighting feature 31disposed about a perimeter thereof. The lighting feature 31 isconfigured to light up when the unit is operating and may includedifferent color LED lights to indicate different status conditions ofthe tea maker 10.

Referring now to FIG. 3, the base portion 28 of brewing unit 12 is shownhaving a bottom surface 68 with an inwardly extending and centrallydisposed receptacle 70. In assembly, the upwardly extending power plug62 disposed on support surface 60 of support stand 14 (FIG. 2) isconfigured to be vertically received in the receptacle 70 of the brewingunit 12. In this way, the brewing unit 12 is electrically coupled to andpowered by the support stand 14. The brewing unit 12 is supported on thesupport stand 14 at an abutment of bottom surface 68 of the brewing unit12 and support surface 60 (FIG. 2) of the support stand 14. The bottomsurface 68 of brewing unit 12 further includes a plurality of stand-offfeatures or feet 72 disposed around a perimeter thereof. The feet 72 canbe molded-in structures or rubberized structures adhered to the bottomsurface 68 for providing grip to the abutment of bottom surface 68 ofthe brewing unit 12 and the support surface 60 of the support stand 14,as well as providing grip to any surface on which the brewing unit 12may be disposed when removed from the support stand 14.

Referring now to FIGS. 4A and 4B, the lid assembly 40 is shown having anouter rim portion 80 and an inner portion 81 surrounding a centrallydisposed aperture 82. The entire lid assembly 40 can be removed from thebrewing unit 12, or the inner portion 81 can be removed from the outerrim portion 80, such that the outer rim portion 80 can remain on thebrewing unit 12 without the inner portion 81 to cover the upper opening24 during a water heating sequence. Thus, the inner portion 81 and outerportion 80 are removeably coupled to one another by any form ofengagement, such as a twist-lock arrangement. The inner portion 81further provides insulating features impeding heat transfer from theinner portion 81 to the outer portion 80, which further insulates thehandle 32 of the vessel 20. A lid or cover 84 closes the aperture 82 andincludes a cover handle 86. The cover 84 is configured to selectivelyclose and lock into place on the aperture 82 of the lid assembly 40. Theaperture 82 opens into a steeping tube 90 which is removeably coupled tothe inner portion 81 as further described below. The steeping tube 90generally includes a metal body portion 92 defined by an outer wall 93having a plurality of perforations 94 disposed therethrough. In use, auser will remove the cover 84 to access aperture 82 for providing aselect amount of tea to the steeping tube 90 in preparing for a brewingsequence. As noted above, the steeping tube 90 extends downwardly fromthe lid assembly 40, such that the steeping tube 90 is disposed withinthe cavity 22 of the brewing unit 12 when the lid assembly 40 is inplace on the upper opening 24 of the brewing unit 12 (See FIG. 1A). Aseal member 96 is disposed around an outer surface of the outer rimportion 80 of the lid assembly 40 and is configured to seal against theupper opening 24 of the brewing unit 12 when the lid assembly 40 is inplace on the brewing unit 12. The outer rim portion 80 further includesan underside 83 where a filter assembly is attached, as furtherdescribed below.

In preparation for a brewing sequence, a user will generally remove thelid assembly 40 from the brewing unit 12 and add water to the cavity 22of the vessel 20 to a desired level. The steeping tube 90 will beremoved from the lid assembly 40 and the lid assembly 40 will be placedback on the brewing unit 12 at upper opening 24. The user will then setthe parameters for a heating sequence by setting the slide switch 42 toa desired temperature or tea type. The user will then initiate theheating sequence by pushing the actuation button 30. Once the addedwater in the cavity 22 has reached a desired temperature, the user canremove the entire lid assembly 40, or remove the inner portion 81 of thelid assembly 40 alone, while leaving the outer rim portion 80 and cover84 on the brewing unit 12 to retain the temperature of the heated water.A select amount of tea can be added to the steeping tube 90 while thesteeping tub 90 is placed in a steeper holder 102, as further describedbelow with reference to FIG. 5. The steeping tube 90, with the teadisposed therein for brewing, will then be coupled to the inner portion81 of the lid assembly 40, as best shown in FIG. 8 and described below.Once the steeping tube 90 is attached to the lid assembly 40, it isremoved from the steeper holder 102 (FIG. 5) and introduced through theouter rim portion 80, such that the steeping tube 90 is now inside thevessel 22 and the inner portion 81 is twist locked into a coupledarrangement with the outer rim portion 80 to form a single rigid lidassembly 40. The lid assembly 40 is kept in place with the inner portion81 coupled to the outer portion 80 for the entire steeping time. At theend of the steeping time, either the entire lid assembly 40 can beremoved, as shown in FIG. 5, or the inner portion 81 can be removed fromthe outer rim portion 80 via the twist lock. Removing the inner portion81, also removes the steeping tube 90 and tea leaves from the outer rimportion 80, which can stay with the vessel 22. The inner lid portion 81and steeping tube 90 can again be placed in the steeper holder 102 (FIG.5) for cooling. The user is now ready to serve the tea without thepotential for over-steeping. It is contemplated that the tea will steepin the steeping tube 90 for an amount of time desired by the user toprovide a brewed tea beverage in the cavity 22. After the steeping tube90 is removed, the inner portion 81 of the lid assembly 40 isre-attached to the outer rim portion 80 of the lid assembly 40 that isstill with the vessel 22 via a twist lock. The brewed tea beverage canbe poured from the vessel 20 through the lid assembly 40 at spout 26disposed on the upper opening 24. The brewed tea beverage may includeparticulate in the mixture, such as tea particles that may have escapedthe steeping tube 90 through the perforations 94. Further, lime scaledeposits created during a brewing procedure may also be in the mixtureof brewed tea. For this reason, the tea maker 10 of the present conceptincludes a spring-loaded articulating filter assembly 100 (FIGS. 1A and1B) for filtering the contents of the brewed tea mixture as the brewedtea mixture exits the vessel 20 along a pouring path indicated by arrowP1 (FIGS. 1A, 1B). The filter assembly 100 is further described belowwith specific reference to FIGS. 6-8.

During a brewing procedure, the steeping tube 90, being disposed inheated water, is itself heated to a notable degree given a metal bodyportion 92 of the steeping tube 90. Thus, when the steeping tube 90 isremoved with the lid assembly 40, it is best to keep the lid assembly 40in an upright position in a proper holding assembly. Referring now toFIG. 5, a steeper holder unit 102 is shown in an exploded view having atop portion 104 with a centrally disposed aperture 106. The centralaperture 106 includes a rounded rim 108 for ease in receiving the bodyportion 92 of the steeping tube 90 of the lid assembly 40. The steeperholder unit 102 further includes a polymeric member 110 which may becomprised of a silicone material. The silicone material of the polymericmember 110 provides a gripping feature for holding the steeping tube 90in place while the inner portion 81 of the lid assembly 40 is removedvia twist lock engagement. Thus, the steeping tube 90 can be press fitinto a frictional engagement with the polymeric member 110 for stableplacement of the same. As further shown in FIG. 5, the steeper holderunit 102 further includes an inner steeper holder 112 and an outerhousing 114, wherein the outer housing 114 is configured to receive thecomponents of the steeper holder 102 when the steeper holder 102 is inan assembled condition. As shown in FIG. 5, the steeper holder 102 isconfigured to receive the steeping tube 90 through the central aperture106 when the lid assembly 40 is removed after a brewing sequence. Thesteeper holder 102 is an insulated member that can be utilized by theconsumer to hold the heated steeping tube 90 until the steeping tube 90has sufficiently cooled. Once the steeping tube 90 has cooled, the usercan remove the lid assembly 40 and steeping tube 90 from the steeperholder 102 for cleaning and removal of the used tea from the steepingtube 90.

Referring now to FIG. 6, the lid assembly 40 is shown having the filterassembly 100 disposed under the seal member 96. The filter assembly 100includes a filter plate 120 having a body portion 122 with a pluralityof perforations 124 disposed therethrough. The body portion 122 of thefilter plate 120 is curved in a manner so as to abut a similarly curvedinner surface 23 of the vessel 20 at an outer edge 125 in a manner asshown in FIG. 1A. As shown in FIG. 1A, the inner surface 23 of thevessel 20 includes a curved contour, and the body portion 122 of thefilter plate 120 includes a curved configuration that is complimentaryto the curved contour of the inner surface 23 of the vessel 20 for closeengagement therebetween. As positioned against the inner surface 23 ofthe vessel 20, the filter plate 120 is configured to filter particulatethat may be disposed in a brewed tea mixture as the brewed tea exits thevessel 20 through the filter plate 120 along the path as indicated byarrow P1 (FIG. 1A). This is due to the location of the filter plate 120being transversely disposed across the pouring path P1, wherein thepouring path P1 is defined from the cavity 22 of the vessel 20 to thespout 26 disposed on the upper opening 24 of the vessel 20. Thus, thefilter plate 120 is configured to be situated in a perpendicular mannerrelative to the pouring path P1 for filtering the contents of the vessel20 being poured out of the vessel 20 along the pouring path P1. In thisway, the filter plate 120 intersects the pouring path P1 when the filterplate 120 is in the extended position E. The lid assembly 40 isconfigured to properly align the filter plate 120 of the filter assembly100 along the pouring path P1 adjacent the spout 26 of the vessel 20. Inorder to properly locate the filter assembly 100 in a position adjacentthe spout 26 of the vessel 20, the lid assembly 40 includes one or morelocating features as shown and described below with reference to FIG. 8.The locating features may be configured to interact with a portion ofthe handle 32 or with a receiving feature disposed on the vessel 20 toensure that the lid assembly 40 is properly received on the upperopening 24 of the vessel 20 in use.

Referring again to FIG. 6, the filter plate 120 is a spring-loadedarticulating metal mesh which is operable between an extended position Eand a retracted position R along a path as indicated by arrow A. In thisway, the filter plate 120 is pivotally coupled to the lid assembly 40and biased towards the extended position E by a biasing member 140, asfurther described below. With the filter plate 120 biased towards theextended position E, a proper fitting of the filter plate 120 againstthe inner surface 23 of the vessel 20 is ensured by constant forceprovided by the biasing member 140 to keep the filter plate 120 engagedwith the inner surface 23 of the vessel 20.

Referring now to FIG. 7, the filter assembly 100 is shown and iscontemplated to be an all metal one-piece unit. With the filter assembly100 being an all metal unit, along with the metal of the steeping tube90 and bottom wall 36 of the glass vessel 20, there is no plastic-to-teacontact for a brewed tea beverage during steeping or pouring along thepouring path P1. In this way, tea brewed using the tea maker 10 of thepresent concept is no subject to heated plastic parts for a more steriletea brewing experience. The filter plate 120 generally defines a frontportion of the filter assembly 100. The filter assembly 100 furtherincludes a bracket portion 126 having first and second legs 128, 130which are interconnected by a pivot bar 132 having first and second ends132A (FIG. 7), 132B (FIG. 6). The bracket portion 126 and filter plate120 are pivotally connected to one another at the pivot bar 132. Thebiasing member 140 is shown in FIG. 7 in the form of a coil spring. Thebiasing member 140 includes a first leg 142 (FIG. 7) that is configuredto act against an outer surface of the lid assembly 40, and a second leg144 (FIG. 6) configured to abut and act against an inner surface of thefilter plate 120. In use, the coil spring 140 is configured to bias thefilter plate 120 towards the extended position E as shown in FIGS. 1Aand 6, thereby providing consistent engagement between the filter plate120 and the inner surface 23 of the vessel 20.

Referring now to FIG. 8, the filter plate 120 is shown in the extendedposition E, wherein the outer edge portion 125 of the filter plate 120is in contact with the inner surface 23 of the vessel 20. In this way,brewed tea passing through the filter plate 120 via perforations 124 isfiltered as the brewed tea exits the vessel 20 at the spout 26 alongpouring path P1. The bracket portion 126 of the filter assembly 100 isshown coupled to an inner channel 150 disposed on the underside 83 ofthe outer rim portion 80 of the lid assembly 40. The bracket portion 126may be welded to the channel 150 of the lid assembly 40, or may beslidably received or otherwise coupled to the channel 150 in assembly.In FIG. 8, the biasing member 140 is shown having first leg 142 engagingfilter plate 120 and second leg 144 engaging the lid assembly 40 forbiasing the filter plate 120 to the extended position E.

As further shown in FIG. 8, the steeping tube 90 includes an upperportion 160 having locking features 162 configured to removeably lockthe steeping tube 90 to the inner portion 81 of the lid assembly 40 atreciprocal locking features 164 disposed on the inner portion 81 of lidassembly 40. Similarly, the cover 84 of the lid assembly 40 is shownhaving locking features 166 configured to engage reciprocal lockingfeatures 168 disposed adjacent the central aperture 82 of the lidassembly 40. In this way, the cover 84 can be locked in place on the lidassembly 40 during a brewing sequence.

As further shown in FIG. 8, a locating feature 170 of the lid assembly40 extends outwardly from the lid assembly 40 to engage a locatingchannel 172 disposed in an upper portion 174 of the handle 32 of thevessel 20. When the locating feature 170 is received in the locatingchannel 172 of the upper portion 174 of the handle 32 of the vessel 20,the filter plate 120 of the filter assembly 100 is aligned with thespout 26 of the vessel 20 along pouring path P1. In this way, the filterplate 120 is ensured to be in the proper position for filtering a brewedtea mixture as the brewed tea mixture exits the vessel 20 along thepouring path indicated by arrow P1. In FIG. 8, the proper position forthe filter plate 120 is in an upstream location along the pouring pathP1 relative to the spout 26. As used in this disclosure, the term“upstream” indicates that the filter plate 120 of the filter assembly100 is disposed along the pouring path P1 in a location that is beforethe spout 26. This is because the pouring path P1 is a path of contentsexiting the cavity 22 of the vessel 20 towards the spout 26. With thefilter plate 120 disposed in an upstream location relative to the spout26, the contents of the vessel 20 will be filtered by the filter plate120 before reaching the spout 26. The locating feature 170 of the lidassembly 40 further acts as an anti-rotational feature for the lidassembly 40 when received in the locating channel 172 disposed on theupper portion 174 of the handle 32.

It will be understood by one having ordinary skill in the art thatconstruction of the described device and other components is not limitedto any specific material. Other exemplary embodiments of the devicedisclosed herein may be formed from a wide variety of materials, unlessdescribed otherwise herein.

For purposes of this disclosure, the term “coupled” (in all of itsforms, couple, coupling, coupled, etc.) generally means the joining oftwo components (electrical, magnetic or mechanical) directly orindirectly to one another. Such joining may be stationary in nature ormovable in nature. Such joining may be achieved with the two components(electrical, magnetic or mechanical) and any additional intermediatemembers being integrally formed as a single unitary body with oneanother or with the two components. Such joining may be permanent innature or may be removable or releasable in nature unless otherwisestated.

It is also important to note that the construction and arrangement ofthe elements of the device as shown in the exemplary embodiments isillustrative only. Although only a few embodiments of the presentinnovations have been described in detail in this disclosure, thoseskilled in the art who review this disclosure will readily appreciatethat many modifications are possible (e.g., variations in sizes,dimensions, structures, shapes and proportions of the various elements,values of parameters, mounting arrangements, use of materials, colors,orientations, etc.) without materially departing from the novelteachings and advantages of the subject matter recited. For example,elements shown as integrally formed may be constructed of multiple partsor elements shown as multiple parts may be integrally formed, theoperation of the interfaces may be reversed or otherwise varied, thelength or width of the structures and/or members or connector or otherelements of the system may be varied, the nature or number of adjustmentpositions provided between the elements may be varied. It should benoted that the elements and/or assemblies of the system may beconstructed from any of a wide variety of materials that providesufficient strength or durability, in any of a wide variety of colors,textures, and combinations. Accordingly, all such modifications areintended to be included within the scope of the present innovations.Other substitutions, modifications, changes, and omissions may be madein the design, operating conditions, and arrangement of the desired andother exemplary embodiments without departing from the spirit of thepresent innovations.

It will be understood that any described processes or steps withindescribed processes may be combined with other disclosed processes orsteps to form structures within the scope of the present device. Theexemplary structures and processes disclosed herein are for illustrativepurposes and are not to be construed as limiting.

It is also to be understood that variations and modifications can bemade on the aforementioned structures and methods without departing fromthe concepts of the present device, and further it is to be understoodthat such concepts are intended to be covered by the following claimsunless these claims by their language expressly state otherwise.

The above description is considered that of the illustrated embodimentsonly.

Modifications of the device will occur to those skilled in the art andto those who make or use the device. Therefore, it is understood thatthe embodiments shown in the drawings and described above is merely forillustrative purposes and not intended to limit the scope of the device,which is defined by the following claims as interpreted according to theprinciples of patent law, including the Doctrine of Equivalents.

What is claimed is:
 1. A tea maker, comprising: a brewing unit having avessel with an upper opening with a spout disposed thereon; a lidassembly removeably received on the upper opening of the vessel; anarticulating filter assembly coupled to the lid assembly and having afilter plate operable between extended and retracted positions, whereinthe filter plate is configured to contact an inner surface of the vesselwhen the filter plate is in the extended position; and a biasing memberdisposed on the filter assembly and configured to bias the filter platetowards the extended position.
 2. The tea maker of claim 1, wherein thefilter plate includes a plurality of perforations disposed on a bodyportion thereof.
 3. The tea maker of claim 2, wherein the inner surfaceof the vessel includes a curved contour, and further wherein the bodyportion of the filter plate includes a curved configuration that iscomplimentary to the curved contour of the inner surface of the vessel.4. The tea maker of claim 2, wherein the biasing member includes a coilspring.
 5. The tea maker of claim 1, wherein the lid assembly includes asteeping tube removeably coupled thereto, wherein the steeping tubeextends downwardly from the lid assembly into the vessel when the lidassembly is received on the upper opening of the vessel.
 6. The teamaker of claim 5, wherein the lid assembly includes a central aperturethat opens into the steeping for providing access to the steeping tube.7. The tea maker of claim 6, including: a cover configured toselectively cover the central aperture of the lid assembly.
 8. The teamaker of claim 2, including: a pouring path defined between a cavity ofthe vessel and the spout, wherein the filter plate is disposedtransversely to the pouring path and in an upstream location relative tothe spout.
 9. A tea maker, comprising: a vessel having an inner surfacedefining a cavity, and an upper opening with a spout disposed thereon; alid assembly removeably received on the upper opening of the vessel; anda filter assembly operably coupled to the lid assembly, the filterassembly including a filter plate operable between extended andretracted positions, wherein the filter plate is configured to contactthe inner surface of the vessel when the filter plate is in the extendedposition.
 10. The tea maker of claim 9, including: a biasing memberoperable coupled between the filter assembly and the lid assembly,wherein the biasing member biases the filter plate towards the extendedposition.
 11. The tea maker of claim 10, wherein the biasing memberincludes a coil spring.
 12. The tea maker of claim 9, including: apouring path defined between the cavity of the vessel and the spout,wherein the filter plate is disposed along the pouring path in atransverse direction relative to a direction of the pouring path. 13.The tea maker of claim 12, wherein the filter plate is disposed alongthe pouring path in an upstream location relative to the spout.
 14. Thetea maker of claim 9, wherein the filter plate includes a plurality ofperforations disposed on a body portion thereof.
 15. The tea maker ofclaim 14, wherein the inner surface of the vessel includes a curvedcontour, and further wherein the body portion of the filter plateincludes a curved configuration that is complimentary to the curvedcontour of the inner surface of the vessel.
 16. A tea maker, comprising:a vessel having a cavity, and an upper opening with a spout disposed onthe upper opening; a lid assembly removeably received on the upperopening of the vessel; a filter assembly operably coupled to the lidassembly, the filter assembly including a filter plate operable betweenextended and retracted positions, wherein the filter plate is contactsan inner surface of the vessel when the filter plate is in the extendedposition; and a pouring path defined between the cavity of the vesseland the spout, wherein the filter plate intersects the pouring path whenthe filter plate is in the extended position.
 17. The tea maker of claim16, wherein the inner surface of the vessel includes a curved contour,and further wherein the body portion of the filter plate includes acurved configuration that is complimentary to the curved contour of theinner surface of the vessel.
 18. The tea maker of claim 16, including: asteeping tube removeably coupled to the lid assembly, wherein thesteeping tube extends downwardly from the lid assembly into the cavityof the vessel when the lid assembly is received on the upper opening ofthe vessel.
 19. The tea maker of claim 16, including: a handle disposedon an outer surface of the vessel, wherein the handle includes an upperportion having a locating channel disposed thereon.
 20. The tea maker ofclaim 19, wherein the lid assembly includes a locating featureconfigured to be received in the locating channel of the handle, andfurther wherein the filter assembly is aligned with the spout of thevessel when the locating feature of the lid assembly is received in thelocating channel of the handle.